Former Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott has revealed the hurt caused by Roy Keane’s decision not the celebrate their 2007 promotion in public.

The former Manchester United captain led the Black Cats back to the Premier League 10 years ago with a terrific run of form, which saw them go for the lower reaches of the Championship table to eventual winners.

But instead of celebrating with an open-top bus tour of the city, Keane insisted on a private ceremony, reasoning that Sunderland’s return to the top-flight was only setting wrong the right of their previous relegation.

And while Elliott admits he understands the Irishman’s reasons, it left many in the squad feeling deflated – and for very good reasons.

It would have been ‘Sleeves’ second parade with Sunderland – with the first certainly sticking in his memory!

“The first bus jaunt I was involved in was at Sunderland in the 2004-2005 season,” Elliott wrote on Sportdec.

“It was a bit surreal if I’m being honest and I’m not sure I really took it all in properly at the time. It was a really hard season that year and we just managed to pip Wigan to the Championship title after going head-to-head with them for the majority of it. It was a great feeling to repay the fans with the day out, as they had stuck with us all through the season.

“My biggest memory of this trophy parade was actually, believe it or not, a woman streaking topless through the crowds on Monkwearmouth Bridge.

“It was a real ‘eye opener’ for myself and the other young lads in the squad!! It was fantastic for me though as all I had been used to before that season was playing mainly reserve team football with Man City, but here I was winning a meaningful trophy and parading it amongst thousand of supporters.

“We actually got relegated the following season which wasn’t great but we did go on and reclaim the 2006-2007 Championship the year after. I will get to that in a bit.”

And so to the 2007 as Sunderland prepared to celebrate their second promotion in three years.

Sunderland's Stephen Elliott (Image: Getty Images)

Elliott adds: “As I mentioned earlier on, I was also part of another Championship winning squad at Sunderland in 2006-2007.

“We had just won the league again after a tremendous squad effort under the guidance of our new manager Roy Keane. It was the club’s second one in three years and the squad were all set for the open top-bus parade through the city. We were really over the moon as we had got off to an absolute shocker that season, which made winning the league all that sweeter.

“The excitement for our big day out soon dwindled when we realised that Roy had decided to cancel the parade and the civic reception that was planned.

“His reasoning being that he didn’t think winning the Championship trophy warranted a street party. Instead, we were going to receive the trophy privately at a plush hotel with only our family present.

“It was a bit of a disappointment to say the least, as there was not nearly as much buzz in the squad when our captain Dean Whitehead received the trophy in front of our wives, then there would have been in front of thousand of supporters.

“It turned out to be a great night where leading Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan played a blinder in performing a fantastic little gig for us.

Sunderland players celebrate promotion in 2005 (Image: PA)

“Still though, I do wish Roy had thought more about his decision to cancel the parade. I understood his reasoning that we shouldn’t be having a public celebration for getting to a league where the club should be anyway.

“But I also feel that because he was so used to winning the Premier League and other major trophies as a player, he may have been slightly embarrassed at that time celebrating a lesser one.

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“The reason I say this, is because there were players in that squad who had never experienced what it was like to win a trophy before that season. I’m sure they would have loved to have experienced the buzz of what parading the trophy through a packed out city was like.

“I remember our veteran goalkeeper at the time, Darren Ward, telling me he was absolutely devastated that the bus parade had been cancelled. He was in the twilight of his career and was hoping to share the moment with his kids and family as he had never won anything before then.

Former Sunderland goalkeeper Darren Ward (Image: Getty Images)

“He also knew it would probably be his last chance to do so. There were a few others in a similar boat to Wardy and some who are still playing now who have yet to win anything.

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“Even to this day, it saddens me a little knowing that there are a few lads who were part of that squad, who will never get to experience such a special occasion, as it really is the best feeling ever.

“Most footballers play football to try and manufacture special moments that live with them forever and I can’t help but feel like Roy took these moments away from certain guys that season.

“However, I’m glad that I was lucky enough to experience more days like this afterwards. I will be forever grateful for these memories and nobody will be able to take them away from my family and I.”

To read Stephen Elliott's article in full on the Sportdec website, click here.